warlord of mars-第17章

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two　jeddaks　consumed　an　hour；　and　then　we　turned　and　retraced　our

way　toward　the　city　of　Kaol；　which　the　head　of　the　column　reached

just　before　dark；　though　it　must　have　been　nearly　morning　before

the　rear　guard　passed　through　the　gateway。

　

Fortunately；　I　was　well　up　toward　the　head　of　the　column；　and

after　the　great　banquet；　which　I　attended　with　the　officers　of　the

royal　guard；　I　was　free　to　seek　repose。　　There　was　so　much　activity

and　bustle　about　the　palace　all　during　the　night　with　the　constant

arrival　of　the　noble　officers　of　the　visiting　jeddak's　retinue　that

I　dared　not　attempt　to　prosecute　a　search　for　Dejah　Thoris；　and　so；

as　soon　as　it　was　seemly　for　me　to　do　so；　I　returned　to　my　quarters。

　

As　I　passed　along　the　corridors　between　the　banquet　hall　and

the　apartments　that　had　been　allotted　me；　I　had　a　sudden　feeling

that　I　was　under　surveillance；　and；　turning　quickly　in　my　tracks；

caught　a　glimpse　of　a　figure　which　darted　into　an　open　doorway

the　instant　I　wheeled　about。

　

Though　I　ran　quickly　back　to　the　spot　where　the　shadower　had

disappeared　I　could　find　no　trace　of　him；　yet　in　the　brief　glimpse

that　I　had　caught　I　could　have　sworn　that　I　had　seen　a　white　face

surmounted　by　a　mass　of　yellow　hair。

　

The　incident　gave　me　considerable　food　for　speculation；　since

if　I　were　right　in　the　conclusion　induced　by　the　cursory　glimpse

I　had　had　of　the　spy；　then　Matai　Shang　and　Thurid　must　suspect　my

identity；　and　if　that　were　true　not　even　the　service　I　had　rendered

Kulan　Tith　could　save　me　from　his　religious　fanaticism。

　

But　never　did　vague　conjecture　or　fruitless　fears　for　the　future

lie　with　sufficient　weight　upon　my　mind　to　keep　me　from　my　rest；

and　so　tonight　I　threw　myself　upon　my　sleeping　silks　and　furs

and　passed　at　once　into　dreamless　slumber。

　

Calots　are　not　permitted　within　the　walls　of　the　palace　proper；

and　so　I　had　had　to　relegate　poor　Woola　to　quarters　in　the　stables

where　the　royal　thoats　are　kept。　　He　had　comfortable；　even　luxurious

apartments；　but　I　would　have　given　much　to　have　had　him　with　me；

and　if　he　had　been；　the　thing　which　happened　that　night　would　not

have　come　to　pass。

　

I　could　not　have　slept　over　a　quarter　of　an　hour　when　I　was

suddenly　awakened　by　the　passing　of　some　cold　and　clammy　thing

across　my　forehead。　　Instantly　I　sprang　to　my　feet；　clutching　in

the　direction　I　thought　the　presence　lay。　　For　an　instant　my　hand

touched　against　human　flesh；　and　then；　as　I　lunged　headforemost

through　the　darkness　to　seize　my　nocturnal　visitor；　my　foot　became

entangled　in　my　sleeping　silks　and　I　fell　sprawling　to　the　floor。

　

By　the　time　I　had　resumed　my　feet　and　found　the　button　which

controlled　the　light　my　caller　had　disappeared。　　Careful　search　of

the　room　revealed　nothing　to　explain　either　the　identity　or　business

of　the　person　who　had　thus　secretly　sought　me　in　the　dead　of　night。

　

That　the　purpose　might　be　theft　I　could　not　believe；　since　thieves

are　practically　unknown　upon　Barsoom。　　Assassination；　however；

is　rampant；　but　even　this　could　not　have　been　the　motive　of　my

stealthy　friend；　for　he　might　easily　have　killed　me　had　he　desired。

　

I　had　about　given　up　fruitless　conjecture　and　was　on　the　point

of　returning　to　sleep　when　a　dozen　Kaolian　guardsmen　entered　my

apartment。　　The　officer　in　charge　was　one　of　my　genial　hosts　of

the　morning；　but　now　upon　his　face　was　no　sign　of　friendship。

　

〃Kulan　Tith　commands　your　presence　before　him；〃　he　said。　　〃Come！〃

　

　

　

　

NEW　ALLIES

　

　

Surrounded　by　guardsmen　I　marched　back　along　the　corridors　of

the　palace　of　Kulan　Tith；　Jeddak　of　Kaol；　to　the　great　audience

chamber　in　the　center　of　the　massive　structure。

　

As　I　entered　the　brilliantly　lighted　apartment；　filled　with

the　nobles　of　Kaol　and　the　officers　of　the　visiting　jeddak；

all　eyes　were　turned　upon　me。　　Upon　the　great　dais　at　the　end

of　the　chamber　stood　three　thrones；　upon　which　sat　Kulan　Tith

and　his　two　guests；　Matai　Shang；　and　the　visiting　jeddak。

　

Up　the　broad　center　aisle　we　marched　beneath　deadly　silence；

and　at　the　foot　of　the　thrones　we　halted。

　

〃Prefer　thy　charge；〃　said　Kulan　Tith；　turning　to　one　who　stood

among　the　nobles　at　his　right；　and　then　Thurid；　the　black　dator

of　the　First　Born；　stepped　forward　and　faced　me。

　

〃Most　noble　Jeddak；〃　he　said；　addressing　Kulan　Tith；

〃from　the　first　I　suspected　this　stranger　within　thy　palace。

Your　description　of　his　fiendish　prowess　tallied　with　that

of　the　arch…enemy　of　truth　upon　Barsoom。

　

〃But　that　there　might　be　no　mistake　I　despatched　a　priest　of

your　own　holy　cult　to　make　the　test　that　should　pierce　his　disguise

and　reveal　the　truth。　　Behold　the　result！〃　and　Thurid　pointed　a

rigid　finger　at　my　forehead。

　

All　eyes　followed　the　direction　of　that　accusing　digitI　alone

seemed　at　a　loss　to　guess　what　fatal　sign　rested　upon　my　brow。

　

The　officer　beside　me　guessed　my　perplexity；　and　as　the　brows　of

Kulan　Tith　darkened　in　a　menacing　scowl　as　his　eyes　rested　upon　me；

the　noble　drew　a　small　mirror　from　his　pocket…pouch　and　held　it

before　my　face。

　

One　glance　at　the　reflection　it　gave　back　to　me　was　sufficient。

　

From　my　forehead　the　hand　of　the　sneaking　thern　had　reached　out

through　the　concealing　darkness　of　my　bed…chamber　and　wiped　away

a　patch　of　the　disguising　red　pigment　as　broad　as　my　palm。

Beneath　showed　the　tanned　texture　of　my　own　white　skin。

　

For　a　moment　Thurid　ceased　speaking；　to　enhance；　I　suspect；

the　dramatic　effect　of　his　disclosure。　　Then　he　resumed。

　

〃Here；　O　Kulan　Tith；〃　he　cried；　〃is　he　who　has　desecrated　the

temples　of　the　Gods　of　Mars；　who　has　violated　the　persons　of　the

Holy　Therns　themselves　and　turned　a　world　against　its　age…old

religion。　　Before　you；　in　your　power；　Jeddak　of　Kaol；　Defender　of

the　Holies；　stands　John　Carter；　Prince　of　Helium！〃

　

Kulan　Tith　looked　toward　Matai　Shang　as　though　for　corroboration

of　these　charges。　　The　Holy　Thern　nodded　his　head。

　

〃It　is　indeed　the　arch…blasphemer；〃　he　said。　　〃Even　now　he　has

followed　me　to　the　very　heart　of　thy　palace；　Kulan　Tith；　for　the

sole　purpose　of　assassinating　me。　　He〃

　

〃He　lies！〃　I　cried。　　〃Kulan　Tith；　listen　that　you　may　know　the　truth。

Listen　while　I　tell　you　why　John　Carter　has　followed　Matai　Shang

to　the　heart　of　thy　palace。　　Listen　to　me　as　well　as　to　them；

and　then　judge　if　my　acts　be　not　more　in　accord　with　true

Barsoomian　chivalry　and　honor　than　those　of　these　revengeful

devotees　of　the　spurious　creeds　from　whose　cruel　bonds　I　have

freed　your　planet。〃

　

〃Silence！〃　roared　the　jeddak；　leaping　to　his　feet　and　laying　his　hand

upon　the　hilt　of　his　sword。　　〃Silence；　blasphemer！　　Kulan　Tith　need　not

permit　the　air　of　his　audience　chamber　to　be　defiled　by　the　heresies

that　issue　from　your　polluted　throat　to　judge　you。

　

〃You　stand　already　self…condemned。　　It　but　remains　to　determine　the

manner　of　your　death。　　Even　the　service　that　you　rendered　the　arms

of　Kaol　shall　avail　you　naught；　it　was　but　a　base　subterfuge　whereby

you　might　win　your　way　into　my　favor　and　reach　the　side　of　this　holy

man　whose　life　you　craved。　　To　the　pits　with　him！〃　he　concluded；

addressing　the　officer　of　my　guard。

　

Here　was　a　pretty　pass；　indeed！　　What　chance　had　I　against　a

whole　nation？　　What　hope　for　me　of　mercy　at　the　hands　of　the

fanatical　Kulan　Tith　with　such　advisers　as　Matai　Shang　and　Thurid。

The　black　grinned　malevolently　in　my　face。

　

〃You　shall　not　escape　this　time；　Earth　man；〃　he　taunted。

　

The　guards　closed　toward　me。　　A　red　haze　blurred　my　vision。

The　fighting　blood　of　my　Virginian　sires　coursed　hot　through

my　veins。　　The　lust　of　battle　in　all　its　mad　fury　was　upon　me。

　

With　a　leap　I　was　beside　Thurid；　and　ere　the　devilish　smirk

had　faded　from　his　handsome　face　I　had　caught　him　full　upon　the

mouth　with　my　clenched　fist；　and　as　the　good；　old　American　blow

landed；　the　black　dator　shot　back　a　dozen　feet；　to